Piccadilly Splendid Walk - Heart of London's Shopping District and Clubland

[@Joolzguides]

Use this link to order my book! ➜ geni.us/joolzguidesbook If you enjoy watching my films why not throw me a one-off contribution via paypal! www.paypal.me/julianmcdonnell Or if you want to chip in a couple of ££ a month you can support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/joolzguides Follow me on Instagram for more bits and bobs ➜ @JoolzGuidesOfficial

[@orb938gmail.]

Hi joolz. Talking of Oscar Wilde, I just went and brought his written work so beautifully put together on you tube into a beautiful piece of work, called..... THE NIGHTINGALE & THE ROSE, only cost me 2quid. Oh, and we also had to buy your book, for someone for Christmas as a gift. So cheers , or should I say chin,chin, 🥂🍾🤕

[@lotsofstuff9645]

Joolz a friend of mine bought me your new book for Christmas. Funny because she’s a Canadian living in Australia and she had no idea we even watched your channel. We recently moved from Australia to London so I guess she thought it would be a great gift for new arrivals to London. Just out of interest, is there any chance we could have our copy signed before you become world famous? If you know where your next walk is going to be that we might stumble across you?

[@VincentVincent-s9t]

Joolz why do you author's not sign your books,you know say the first 50 . People like to feel special, come on son marketing. It should sell itself if its good. I'd buy one if signed.

[@VincentVincent-s9t]

Joolz hands down this is the best viewing on KZbin. How I can sit here, and watch you explain our wonderful city ,thankyou sir.

[@VincentVincent-s9t]

Oh Love the Vanessa paradie video, one thing thoe,it should of being a ten minute slot,not three seconds. Wonderful!!!

[@PathfinderHistoryTravel]

I’ve been watching these entertaining videos for several years now and just realized the dynamic. Joolz gives his friend Simon the tour while Simon films. Simon is filling the role of the tourist in our place. We viewers feel like we are personally on the tour. Thank you Joolz and Simon for the enjoyment I’ve received from these videos. It’s much easier than traveling all the way to London. 😊

[@Robert-po8jn]

Sometimes his sister does as well. But I never really thought of it that way until you said this.

[@VincentVincent-s9t]

Well put sir,exactly. A most excellent of videos.

[@simonbiggs9102]

Not enough words to describe how good this episode is.

[@stablefairy9437]

these areas of London are absolutely fascinating and it is wonderful that these shops go back so many years and can show you Ian Fleming and Winston Churchill's fragrances! beautiful buildings from a beautiful era.

[@cookie4wookiee]

I've used these vids for my visits to London for some extra history we like. To expensive to get there now😢

[@mariamaryagathocleous8859]

Last summer I visited and spent the afternoon inside the fascinating London Library! It happened by chance and I wasn’t aware that Bram Stoker had visited the same library! Wow! After wasting most of my morning inside the Cyprus consulate, which is also in St. James Square, I was drawn to the library once I spotted it and I felt compelled to pop inside to have a look! I was very pleased that I had because The London Library is indeed a very fascinating place! 😊

[@iankirkpatrick1875]

STOKER

[@mariamaryagathocleous8859]

@@iankirkpatrick1875 my bad! Thank you.

[@edwardalexander9486]

Superb episode - loved Floris, Hatchards and Sotherans and the time map! Great stuff yet again.

[@kingman.mp4]

Love Hatchards. How about a London bookshops walk?

[@de68a]

As always - brilliant episode. The assistants at all those shops were marvellous - friendly, warm, knowledgeable and welcoming. Great advertisements for their businesses! (Also great reference to The Pogues - RIP Shane)

[@beezig]

Its Sunday, Its Joolz, life is perfect

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

Marvellous and interesting coverage of this very busy district of London, Jools. The bookshops look to be real attractions for the reading person, something for everyone in those retailers, I guess. The perfume shop is a total stunner, with the vast ranges there has been for many a celebrity over the years. Like yourself, I don't think that Piccadilly Circus has much charm these days like it used to have back in the day. Those advertisements are too flash! With the buildings that you show like the ex-United Services Club, and various others along that road where the gentlemen's clubs are, it's quite amazing how at one time the stonework would have been tarnished with the old traffic and coal smoke pollution, and now they look as spick and span and almost white, as if recently constructed. Many thanks for this most excellent presentation.

[@princesskyrie]

Seeing the pool in one of the clubs reminded me of the Drones Club in the Jeeves and Wooster books and how Bertie always brought up the time he crossed a series of rings over the pool, but Tuppy Glossop hooked one of the rings back so Bertie had to drop into the pool in full formal evening dress. (Wodehouse describes it much better than I do.)

[@chriswade7470]

Tower Records was originally Swan and Edgar’s department store

[@nickwalter9630]

I'm suprised Jooles didn't reference that. Before his time maybe...goodness now I'm feeling old.

[@johnp515]

@@nickwalter9630most of what he talks about was before his time

[@andyytube484]

What an uplifting video.....excellent. The perfect escape from the doom and gloom......there is hope for this country after all, and what lovely ladies working in the shops......Perfect.

[@danielomalley4394]

I spent most of 1975 working in the staff canteen of the Piccadilly Hotel, two floors beneath street level! This 21 year old Canadian saw both sides of London (Shades of Orwell’s ‘Down and Out in…’). I roamed every street you showed, loved every minute spent there. Thank you for reviving grest memories!

[@wasabista1613]

Splendid Joolzy! I was tramping around some of those streets myself back before all the nonsense started. Without you to show me around I scarcely knew what I was looking at, kind of like a dog in a library.

[@interestings7866]

Love when you visit local business!!! Please always do it!

[@Boabywankenobi]

07:44 - that's Chatham House! That's proper. I believe the house gets it's name because William Pitt who was Prime Minister in the UK was the Earl of Chatham. That's a serious building and very important even today. A lot of the global political landscape is shaped in there even to this day. Edit: I see 13 seconds later you mentioned all this haha. Btw, next door to Chatham House is and has been the main office of Universal Music. Stephen Fry lives in the back of that place and the head of the world masonic order is the other side of the Dutch East India club next to that library.

[@harryhot]

I used to work in Tower Records in the mid, to late 80s. I was in the basemen just by the station entrance, I served Ian Brown from the Stone Roses once, he bought an 808 State CD single . As always I thoroughly enjoyed the vid.

[@AtheistOrphan]

I was a regular there at that time, you may have served me!

[@ghostcasebook1266]

I was crossing the road by Hatchards and Paul Weller walker right past me carrying several bags from Tower Records. This must have been about 1995 maybe.

[@kaliou6645]

🎄❄️☃️When I visited Picadilly Circus & The Strand, I was overwhelmed by the inmense history and rich culture that this part of London contained. Excellent as always Jooz Guides 🎩

[@joegreen2750]

Yes, now the government are letting islamists build one of their hideouts at number 1 Piccadilly Circus.

[@Apollo_Mint]

Astounding yet again Joolz. Particularly fond of your dedicated to fragrance shops video idea. Now, if you can also add a dedicated to unusual/niche/secret bookshops & libraries video, I would be most grateful. Especially if you can locate a copy of the original Necronomicon 😈😺

[@viktoriavolkova3400]

Thank you for sending me your signed book with devotion so rapidly, dear Julian! I was lucky to have noticed your announcement about the signing event in November and made use of it😊. It was delivered very quickly to Germany. I have already my favourite routes in your book and will be happy to walk them through when I will be next time in London😊. I also rewatched the episode with the favourite places of your mum and was delighted by her fine taste: I noticed that it would be an ideal day for me, if I spent it just like in that episode! Every site was a pearl - and ended in Victoria&Albert Museum🎉. Magnificent. And may this educated and kind hearted woman rest in peace.

[@mheuman]

A cup of Earl Grey and a tour of Piccadilly with Joolz. The perfect way to end Sunday. Thank you so much!!!

[@Charles-Englischdeutsch]

Thank you Julian, how many interesting things and beautiful places in London you show us. Greetings from Italy to you and all of you in the community of this wonderful channel🙏❤️

[@jackwatsonepic626]

Them Duke of Wellington steps. I thought were put there by the local council. So I can sit there to tie my shoelaces , lol.🤣 🇬🇧

[@brianbrown826]

Hi Jools, before Tower Records that building was Swan and Edgar.

[@ukfm]

My great gran from Trieste cooked for for Napoleon III. I think he grew up in Trieste when they were exiled there. He had a house in Southport too and spent a lot of time in exile there. My family from Liverpool. I enjoy your Italian references.

[@gloriastroedecke2717]

I love Floris and appreciate your mention of Joe Orton. Thank you. Always doing a marvelous job of entertaining as well as informing.

[@gloriastroedecke2717]

And Grinling Gibbons, too!

[@papercup2517]

Very enjoyable episode. I loved Picadilly Circus back in 1970 when I worked at I Was Lord Kitchener's Valet, right under the old Coca Cola sign; an off-shoot of the original, more famous Carnaby Street purveyor of old Edwardian and Victorian military uniforms, worn by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Mick Jagger. It's said when Mick wore his elaborately braided jacket on Top of the Pops one Thursday night, the mad rush of new customers was so great they were completely out of stock by Friday lunchtime, and had to close the doors.. There was a great atmosphere even though our stock was more general hip/ hippy paraphernalia and souvenirs, giant 'cigarette' papers printed as union jacks, dollar bills and the like. Very popular with the travelling hippies who used to congregate on the steps of 'Eros'; when they got tired of that, they'd all come in our shop for a look around. I was in charge of tee-shirts and posters - both still quite novel ideas. It was the era when 27 year old rock stars were suddenly dying like flies and each time one died, within a few days we'd have a tee-shirt with their picture on it. Many stories to be told. If you want to do an episode on the 'swinging London' of that era, try contacting Robert Orban on FB for info; he was one of the original founders of IWLKV, along with the lovely John Paul, who used to slink around the streets of London in a lime green Lamborghini! Thanks for another very entertaining and informative video. The Circus certainly does all looks very dull these days, in comparison. Our gorgeous emporium is now Boots the Chemist, of all things - hardly something to fire the imagination of visitors to London!

[@SirWhig-esq.]

Pippity pop folks 😊 (Perfect Sunday viewing) - also the royal overseas club is amazing indoors with great views from the back [“i can feel a joolz guide fragrance coming on”, sounds like a fart joke😂]

[@fs357mag]

Another absolutely delightful video. Thank you for the tour. Love when you go into the shops.

[@kevinfleming9919]

I appreciate, and have a lot of respect for you, with the way that you not only will show and talk about businesses in the areas you are touring, but also will go inside and give the owners/employees a chance to tell us about the place in their own words, give some history about it, and promote the local businesses to make the people watching your videos interested in going there and supporting them. Even though it's also a way for you to get more information and content in your video to make it longer, add some interest, and have more accurate descriptions of the places and what they do, it really is a Class Act for you to do that simple gesture especially when they aren't paying you to come there and include them in your videos! It's also kind of funny that the two girls were taking a picture of themselves under the "underground" sign while touring the city and they were mere feet away from the greatest tour guide they could hope for to show them around, give them the history of the city, tell them not only facts about it but also some things that may or may not be facts but should be! lol!

[@AniMerci]

Always a lovely Sunday morning with Joolz. Happy Holidays to all of you! Cheers! 🇬🇧🎄🍻

[@lennyp18]

Lovely that you mentioned the Pogues. RIP Shane MacGowan.

[@digitalreid]

Great to see Floris. I get over to London from Oz once every 10 years or so and always stock up with some No89 when I’m there. Love that little shop. Santal is good too. Thanks Joolz.

[@alandyer910]

What a great tour! So many wonderful historic shops. Thank you!

[@redriverraider]

Love old book stores! Wife and I have a couple more to visit! Thanks!

[@jamskof]

i felt sad when you mentioned your lack of love for picadilly, but then realised i felt the same way, it doesnt feel like london anymore. its turning into time square.

[@tuxedoneko9837]

Bowie's scent?!?!? Yes please ❤❤❤

[@EyeByBrian]

He was fond of several different fragrances over the years, not solely the one created for him at Floris. Another one he wore for a time was ‘Minotaur’ by Paloma Picasso (released in 1992).

[@groovetempleuk]

Joolz I never get bored of your videos, I’ve learned so much about the real London from you even though I am there regularly thank you 🙏

[@marinedrive5484]

That song, Burlington Bertie used to drive my wife crazy, mainly because I was once obsessed with it. I would go around the house singing with great gusto, "I'm Burlington Bertie, I rise at ten thirty..." I know what you mean about Piccadilly Circus, Joolz, it's just not the same, especially after they changed all those glorious, neon, flashing signs to the present flat, digital, display screens.

[@RighteousReverendDynamite]

"My monocle holds up my face..." classic!!

[@kronkite1530]

I do love these videos! A stressful period yet I’m sitting here watching with interest and then realise that I’m smiling away! Oh, and the book is ‘brill. 👍

[@tocsa120ls]

Love the introduction to these shops. A few years ago I visited the Silver Vaults in Holborn (and no doubt bored an unfortunate clerk senseless, but hey, I was the only one in the store) - it seems London has this inexhaustible supply of interesting retailers! (sadly I think photography is not allowed down there)

[@christopherbarker181]

This was a great walk and so interesting. Too bad Tower Records closed but if I’m not mistaken they still have a store in Japan. There are plenty of record stores in London; maybe you could do a tour of those🤔Your channel is great for those of us that don’t get to travel. Thanks Joolz and Simon!

[@taxitoursoflondon]

Picadilly has a nice blend of classic architecture and modern desings.

[@61shirley]

I found a Napolian 3rd coin up in Pinxton Derbyshire while metal detecting.

[@stephengraham5099]

Raffles from the books by E.W. Hornung lived at Albany as well.

[@epicduck5177]

Absolutely scintillating. My favorite area of london, and my favorite joolz guide so far. Stacked with information too. Bravo! 🎉🏆

[@hexfxtriks]

Nice to see a post Covid walk of this area! I'll be staying in the area this January (2024). Thanks!

[@JTMaxBet]

This was such an incredibly fun walk about! But can I just say the highlight for me was Burlington Burtie that kept chiming in! 🎉

[@hendongooner7383]

Used to love going to Tower Records late in the night to browse and buy albums etc. They often had import international versions of albums. Got some great Japanese vinyl copies of albums. Worth a few quid now. ;-)

[@daveh7989]

The book stores you went into were beautiful. I love history and i love to read. I could spend hours in them especially the first one you went in. Your walks are fun to watch. I know ill never get to London in this lifetime but through your videos i get to.see some of it and what I'm seeing i like very much. The cheese stor looked interesting and you said you have videos just on cheese. I'll have to look them up.thank you again, really do like your videos, they are very interesting and entertaining. Dave from America. 👍🏻🇺🇸

[@RevStickleback]

I really do envy the amount of traditional old pubs that exist in London. So many elsewhere are either closing down, or being turned into gastropubs, decked out in pastel colours or slate blue, with all the charm of a Travelodge.

[@robertdoe1157]

Great Sunday morning breakfast KZbin video. Hopefully see you filming in London one day! Great to meet you at the book signing

[@Tidybitz]

This video is up there with your best, Joolz, thankyou for making it, it was so, so interesting. Lovely to see those old beautiful buildings, shops etc and learn about their associations. I know you say toward the end about Picadilly looking awful nowadays, and I agree, it's lost it's magic nowadays, but nevertheless it would be interesting if you did, even if only one video devoted to it and it's past.

[@peterreston6478]

A great pleasure indeed. I remember shopping at Simpsons in the 1960s. A wonderful department store with superb service.

[@rallyeraidr7841]

Ah brilliant! How much I miss London, so thank you for keeping me in touch.

[@tanithmessenger3581]

Another great film, always good to hear Tom singing too 🙂Spotted the Cyprus flag - my adopted home country. Piccadilly just isn't the same any more, just glad there are still many old parts of London with lots of history for you to tell us about. Plenty to fill many books I am sure 😉

[@KC-gy5xw]

Yay for Joolzy!!! ... wasn't The Museum of Mankind on Piccadilly? I used to go there for lunch until closed/moved... 80's. Yvonne Fletcher - I was working in Saville Row then, such a sad time.. Floris!! Wonderful! Cheese!! Even more Wonderful!! I STILL have the rainbow leg warmers I bought at St James over 40 years ago!! Tower Records used to be Swan and Edgar!

[@cookie4wookiee]

I see play that goes wrong. Amazing show ❤

[@TheOracle1997]

I would love a Pogues London locations tour. So many songs/pubs/venues to cover.

[@naturalmystery]

Yoko did know who John was! She returned home to the flat she shared with Germaine Greer and others, after that art show and announced "I've bagged myself a Beatle!". Don't believe the official narrative! ;) And it was Paul who was the first Beatle to go to one of her shows. He mentioned it to John who later visited.

[@johnp515]

Exactly! The idea that she didn’t know who The Beatles were in the 1960’s is ludicrous. I don’t think Paul went to one of her shows though. I think she came to him to ask for a song lyrics manuscript on behalf of John Cage.

[@pjdexter168]

I worked at that Tower Records in the summer of 2000, so many great memories, strange seeing it all closed down

[@zeyneptuna8766]

It was a wonderful tour, following your steps was like diving into a cultural era. You have introduced a wonderful resting point to the graduate students here. We will go for a beer here.👍

[@Custodes21]

Sabine Baring-Gould, an interesting author indeed!

[@elizabeth-gl8ki]

The music and banter makes your vids special.❤

[@tonywalker5681]

When Michael Palin did 80 days around the world. When he got back to London, he went to the REFORM CLUB where it all started, and they wouldn't let him back in because he didn't have a tie on.

[@davidgray3321]

And absolutely right they were, maintain standards.

[@lysenabertoli2249]

I just never tire of you and your tours. I still hope one day to make it back to London and to meet you and have a little stroll.😊

[@paulrowe9604]

There is nothing as fascinating and interesting on KZbin as your amazing videos !!! Joolz you are the greatest !

[@ndhan72]

London....the coolest city in the world.

[@paulstleger9319]

We love a shout-out for Countess Markievicz!

[@Calum_S]

I believe the Jacobites used to toast the gentleman in the velvet coat, after the molehill that did for William III.

[@chrisblay]

Another fascinating look at an area of London. It’s all the facts you have that make it so interesting.

[@jb3558]

i absolutely love your videos. they are perfect to watch early Sunday evenings whilst I have my evening meal. Makes me feel safe, warm and sunday night-ish! I am astonished by your knowledge.

[@grahampratchett8207]

Great video as per usual. The champagne bar.....can you go in and have a Beer? Merry Christmas

[@nibbleniks2320]

Charming, as always. Thank you! (Love your book, have had it since it came out.)

[@ayiorgos]

Piccadilly. at Lower regent str. My youth's playground 70s - 80s that is... Fantastic years in the most beautiful and interesting capital of the world! By far!

[@colinp2238]

Good morning, Jules. I have a photo of that thin Tardis that I took around 2017. I think it was my first trip to London Central after my convalescence after the amputation of my toes. I think I posted it on my Facebook page as I was proud of myself for being so bold. Do you have a video about Belgravia? I ask because I am a member of the London Caledonian Society and meet at Halkin Street. Another place that I often visit there is the Grenardier, but I guess that is Knightsbridge. Have a good Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

[@kathrynhobbs8874]

The police post you were looking for at in Piccadilly Circus used to be known as TP1 (traffic post 1) and was where my husband spent many an hour directing traffic

[@leslielutz6140]

SO GOOD. All that black brick. Don't care how it got that color it is beautiful.

[@valeriea.gladstone6440]

Yes Turner was also a Watercolorist, there is a line of paint named after him! Thanks as usual for the video. I miss the olde town!

[@RighteousReverendDynamite]

Too bad the winner last week of the Turner Art Prize created and "intallation" of a pile of iron scrap and faded Union Flag bunting that the judges and critics believe is "art". ... Turner would not approve. Po-Mo needs to be No-Mo. But what do I know??

[@peterreston6478]

Very enjoyable. I remember Simpson's and Lillywhites when Picadilly looked much nicer 34:38 in the early 60's. Keep up the good work.

[@clivejohnson9515]

also, at number nine (next door to the scotch) was where Gered Mankowitz shot the rolling stones for the front cover of their "Out Of Our Heads" album.. They tried to get David Bailey, but he was unavailable at the time.

[@janeyorke8684]

❤ I l bought your book off Amazon.... saving it for Christmas 2024....keep these wonderful videos going if possible... Glorious 😃 smiles .

[@paulm3033]

I love London, and over the yesrs ,have explored, by foot mainly, with the aid of tube and bus, many parts of the Metropolis, but these brilliantly entertaining videos have opened my eyes to aspects i wasnt aware of, and I love the jaunty delivery , and the grreat chemistry between Joolz and Simon .

[@dannisneeahlin3882]

Why is it called Circus? As in piccadilly and oxford circus.

[@leszekdebski9370]

Building at the beginning of the video, opposite the institute of directors is the building which serves as a Buckingham Palace in The Crown, you can see the swiping staircase if you look carefully through the door.

[@clivebaxter6354]

Scotch of St James was where Hendrix met the DJ Kathy Etchingham who became his long term girl friend, they had the flat at Brook St Mayfair. The story about Clapton seeing Hendrix play was not there, but at N London Polytechnic where Cream were playing and Jimi joined in

[@aussiej2973]

thank you Joolz guides for another years worth of great videos ,love from Australia 🐨🦘🕷

[@MrChrissy1r]

Many years ago starting around 1966 to approximately early nineties , I worked in a lot of the properties around Soho, Piccadilly, Oxford Circus, Euston, etc etc, a lot in Soho itself of course owned by the Catholic Church, and a lot were ministry. I was really surprised at just how many of the "upper floors" were unoccupied. Some flats, some offices some just had not been used for decades. Some of course were really posh sumptuous apartments albeit they were either owned by the business at ground level or rented/leased. There were also a lot of empty apartments above the shops and businesses in and around Hampstead in those days too. Some were empty so long the actual owners or property managers had lost or mislaid the keys and I would have to gain entry for them, primarily of course to change all of the locks and so they could asses the works that would be carried out before letting, and yes, some of the locks were truly ancient, and inside the dust inches deep and full of Guano were there an open or broken window..

[@marcusbrutus1999]

One of Joolz's best videos. We live in SW Florida and purchased his book in Sarasota, Florida. We really recommend it. We will be visiting Sotheran's when we visit London in May 24. Nice one Joolz! 👍

[@markbriggs5531]

Big chuckles. So much mirth and merriment as always. Top notch. Looking forward to more!

[@juliewurtele8448]

So good….. Love your walks around London and totally agree with you on Piccadilly Circus!

[@JohnSmith-uc4ku]

Another great video jools Simon and all, happy xmas to all still did not get back to London hopefully soon will get a tour when I get back ,hopefully you will do a video about kilburn cricklewood wilsden Wembley and all the Irish navies over the years working Have a great Xmas jools and gang

[@tomferry5273]

May I be the first to congratulate you on your tartan strides… Top notch trousering

[@andywood5699]

The shops were fascinating. Thank you so much.

[@cecilwilson5442]

Usual brilliant stuff ☘️ from northern Ireland great information about your City 👍

[@jonathanparry9505]

Thank you, yes I remember Lillywhites being a sports shop like no other. I will certainly visit Floris next time I am in London

[@tomslick8148]

That was mega.....I really hope you sre planning a Christmas Joolz guides???

[@Joolzguides]

I'm hoping to.. myabe on Christmas day if I have time!!

[@beezig]

I think the Dark Knight scene is where The Joker asks Gambol if you want to know how he got his scars, then broke the pool cue and hosted try outs to join his gang, this type of information is why this channel is one of the best.

[@beverlystewart1096]

Love Joolz, Simon and Little Lost Peg.

[@crawford1083]

Superb! Like many I mis Tower Records! For a short time I worked at Smith Barney Europe whose offices were behind Tower, but the Library was up in the gods directly above Tower with a view over Piccadilly Circus across to Lilywhites. Used to spend a lot of time browsing Lilywhites!